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Understanding relative trends in research use by policymakers: comparative analysis of three small advanced economies
Full text linkThe idea that sharing robust scientific insights with policymakers leads to the creation
of better public policies has been one of the fundamental assumptions of evidence-informed
policymaking approach. In its simplistic linear form, this idea has been challenged by those
who correctly point out that evidence from academic research is just one of the types of
evidence that can be used by policymakers, and that having robust evidence is often insufficient
for making policy change (Kuchenmüller et al., 2022; Smith et al., 2024). Nonetheless,
academic research can be an important input into decision-making, influencing both how
policy-makers think about a particular issue and what specific steps they take to address it (de
Sandes-Guimarães et al., 2022; Newson et al., 2018)
Obesity drives dysregulation in DC responses to viral infection
Full text linkAbstract Introduction
Obesity is a worldwide epidemic, with over 1 billion people worldwide living with obesity. It is associated with an increased risk of over 200 chronic co-morbidities, including an increased susceptibility to infection. Numerous studies have highlighted the dysfunction caused by obesity on a wide range of immune cell subsets, including dendritic cells (DCs). DCs are innate immune sentinels that bridge the innate and adaptive immune systems. DCs provide critical signals that instruct and shape the immune response. Our group has previously reported that DCs from people with obesity display defective cytokine production; however, the mechanisms underpinning these defects are unclear.
Methods
We investigated the functional responses of DCs using a murine-specific single-stranded RNA virus, Sendai virus, in mice on a standard diet and in a model of diet-induced obesity.
Results
Here, we demonstrate that GM-CSF cultured bone marrow–derived DCs (GM-DCs) from mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) have reduced cytokine production following viral challenge. This was associated with a dysfunctional metabolism through reduced translation in the HFD GM-DCs.
Conclusions
We propose that obesity-mediated effects on DCs have downstream consequences on their ability to effectively mediate subsequent immune responses, especially during viral infection
Communities of plasmids as strategies for antimicrobial resistance gene survival in wastewater treatment plant effluent
Full text linkPlasmids facilitate antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene spread via horizontal gene transfer, yet the
mobility of genes in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) resistomes remains unclear. We sequenced
173 circularised plasmids transferred from WWTP effluent into Escherichia coli and characterised their
genetic content. Multiple multidrug-resistant plasmids were identified, with a significant number of
mega-plasmids (>100 kb). Almost all plasmids detected existed with other plasmids i.e. as
communities rather than lone entities. These plasmid communities enabled non-AMR plasmids to
survive antimicrobial selection by co-existing with resistant partners. Our data demonstrates the
highly variable nature of plasmids in addition to their capacity to carry mobile elements and genes
within these highly variable regions. The impact of these variations on plasmid ecology, persistence,
and transfer requires further investigation. Plasmid communities warrant exploration across biomes,
as many non-resistant plasmids escape elimination by co-existing with AMR plasmids in the same
bacterial host, representing a previously unrecognised survival strategy
Weather conditions leading to deadly wildfires in Türkiye, Cyprus and Greece made 10 times more likely due to climate change
Full text linkIn July 2025, Türkiye, and Cyprus faced one of the most severe wildfire crises in recent memory, as extreme heat, prolonged drought, and strong winds created conditions that drove devastating blazes across the Eastern Mediterranean. A record-breaking heatwave, with temperatures soaring above 45°C, intensified fire conditions, forcing mass evacuations, killing and injuring firefighters, and leaving vast swathes of land scorched (IFRC, 2025)
Fundamental movement skills in grassroots soccer: A comparative study of coaches’ perceptions and practices in 9 European countries
Full text linkFundamental Movement Skills (FMS) are proven to be beneficial for development across sports domains, including soccer. Grassroots soccer provides a substantial platform to promote and develop FMS. However, coaches often have limited knowledge about FMS. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the perceptions and practices of FMS among grassroots soccer coaches across nine European countries and various coaching profiles. This study surveyed 1055 grassroots coaches from 9 countries based on prior studies to understand their perceptions and practices regarding FMS. Firstly, 14 questions were divided into three components with a Principal Component Analysis to enable clearer analysis: ‘Coaching Effectiveness,’ ‘Influencing Factors,’ and ‘Importance of FMS.’ The second phase involved comparing countries and coaching profiles to see how perceptions and practices varied by coaches’ expertise, experience, and the age group they coach. Kruskal-Wallis group comparisons revealed varied awareness and understanding of FMS among grassroots coaches in nine European countries (p < 0.001). Post-hoc results showed that perceptions and practices were influenced more by coaching experience (p < 0.01) and the age group coached (p < 0.01) rather than qualifications. Coaches with over 10 years of experience and those working in the fundamental phase (U7-U12) recognized the benefits of FMS to a greater extent. While FMS awareness exists, deep understanding and practical implementation remain challenging. Differences between countries suggest a unified approach to FMS in coach education is missing. Strengthening FMS education will ensure that grassroots coaches are better equipped to develop young players, ultimately contributing to more effective long-term player development
Outflows from young stars: Investigating angular momentum removal with Integral Field Spectroscopy
Full text linkOutflows from young stars play a fundamental role in the process of star
formation, acting as a dominant mechanism for angular momentum extraction
from the star-disc system, regulating accretion onto the star. These powerful
ejections, composed of high-velocity, collimated jets and slower-moving,
wide-angled winds, are intrinsically linked to accretion and are launched perpendicularly
to the disc surrounding the star. However, the exact mechanism
for how these outflows are driven, the impact that they have on mass and angular
momentum extraction, and subsequently, the impact they have on disc
evolution and planet formation, is not well-constrained. This thesis presents
an observational study of protostellar outflows from low-mass stars, primarily
with the use of Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS) with VLT (the Very Large Telescope)
instruments, such as SINFONI, MUSE, and ERIS, allowing the spatial
and kinematical analysis of these outflows in various emission tracers.
A morphological and kinematical study of the HH 46/47 outflow in the
near-infrared (NIR) using SINFONI reveals a stratified outflow structure in
kinematics, chemistry, and temperature, and the presence of a velocity gradient
transverse to the flow direction, providing insights into the launching
mechanism. The investigation of the RU Lupi outflow in optical forbidden
emission lines with MUSE presents the first images of the jet and low-velocity
component of the outflow, allowing their kinematics, extents, and widths to
be determined, and additionally the outflow efficiency to be explored, providing
constraints on the launching mechanism. A multi-epoch proper motion
analysis of the HH 46/47 outflow, using observations spanning nearly
three decades, is presented, enabling a detailed characterisation of the temporal
evolution of the outflow. The results presented in this thesis showcase the
powerful use of IFS in the study of outflows, and offer new constraints on the
outflow driving mechanisms and their role in angular momentum removal,
contributing to our understanding of star formation
Input‐To‐State Stable Tracking Control Design for Fully Actuated Mechanical Systems Using Position Measurements Only
Full text linkIn this article, we consider tracking control design for fully actuated mechanical systems using position measurements only. A recently developed hybrid momentum observer is used, which has the property that the momentum estimation error is a passive output from the estimation error dynamics. To complement this, a tracking error system is constructed with error coordinates defined between the momentum estimate and the desired momentum. The tracking error dynamics are similarly passive with the momentum estimation error as the passive input to the tracking error system. Exploiting the passivity of both the observer and tracking controller subsystems, a passive interconnection is constructed which results in a storage function for the joint observer and controller systems. It is shown that the joint system is Input‐to‐State Stable (ISS) with respect to external disturbances and the effect of the disturbance can be attenuated via tuning gains. The results are numerically demonstrated on a 2‐link manipulator system
From A Cell to A Classroom. Adult Education, Identity, and the Teaching Journey After Incarceration in Ireland.
Full text linkThis thesis explores the experiences of formerly incarcerated individuals who have pursued or attained teaching roles in Ireland through adult education pathways. While education is widely promoted as a tool for rehabilitation and social reintegration, the journey from prisoner to professional teacher remains fraught with symbolic, institutional, and moral barriers. Grounded in a qualitative, phenomenological methodology, this study centres the voices of six participants five men and one woman who have transitioned from imprisonment into various educational contexts, including adult, community, and further education. Their accounts reveal how personal transformation, often catalysed by prison education and peer-led learning, collides with enduring stigma, opaque regulatory systems, and conditional inclusion within the teaching profession.
Drawing on the work of Goffman, Maruna, Mezirow, Wacquant, Inglis, and Bates Evoy, the analysis traces three interwoven strands: stigma and identity, transformative learning, and institutional recognition. These themes illuminate how educational growth is often undermined by discretionary vetting processes, professional gatekeeping, and the absence of structural recognition. The study contributes new knowledge by addressing a gap in Irish and international research on post-prison access to regulated professions particularly teaching and reveals how adult education serves both as a site of empowerment and a space of subtle exclusion.
Positioned within both academic and lived experience, this research offers a reflexive, critical account of what it means to seek legitimacy after incarceration. Its findings have implications for policy reform, teacher registration, vetting transparency, and inclusive adult education practice. Ultimately, it asks whether the Irish education system is truly prepared to recognise transformation or whether it remains bound by symbolic boundaries that deny full professional belonging to those who have already changed
